Earlier, McHenry County Blog published Commonwealth Edison campaign contributions to Jack Frank.

Commenter Mark decided to dig deeper, looking at conributions from electric companies in Downstate Illinois about which folks in McHenry County would know little, if anything.

It is common practice for Com Ed to contribute to legislators outside of its ervcie area and Downstate electricity providers to provide similar hard-to-figure-out campaign donations to State Reps. and Senators in Com Ed’s monopoly territory.

Here is what Mark found:

2011 Vote Switch by Jack Franks

Jack Franks switched from a no vote on May 30, 2011, to a yes vote on October 26, 2011, for Senate Bill 1652 (SB 1652) in the 97th General Assembly.

After that yes vote, contributions from ComEd / Exelon to Jack Franks political committees increased an average of 146% per year.

Contributions from ComEed / Exelon to Jack Franks PACs averaged $1,189 per year before October 26, 2011, and $2,935 per year after October 26, 2011.

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SB 1652 / PA 97-0616 was known as the Energy Infrastructure and Modernization Act (Smart Grid).

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The Supporters of Jack D Franks political action committee (PAC) and its predecessor, the Citizens for Jack D Franks PAC, received a combined $17,900 in political contributions from Ameren and two of its acquisitions, Central Illinois Light Company (CILCO) and Illinois Power.

• Ameren – 7/9/2016 – $1,500
• Ameren – 5/13/2016 – $1,500
• Ameren – 7/15/2015 – $2,000
• Ameren – 1/30/2015 – $1,000
• Ameren – 3/21/2014 – $1,500
  Ameren – 2/22/2013 – $2,500
• Ameren – 9/19/2012 – $1,000
• Ameren – 7/12/2012 – $1,000
• Ameren – 2/21/2012 – $1,000
• Ameren – 6/23/2009 – $500
• Ameren – 3/20/2009 – $500
• Ameren – 1/13/2009 – $500
• Ameren – 6/20/2008 – $500
• Ameren – 8/14/2006 – $1,200
• Ameren Illinois PAC – 6/16/2005 – $250
• Central Illinois Light Company – 9/14/2001 – $300
• Central Illinois Light Company – 3/23/2001 – $250
• Illinois Power – 6/19/2003 – $300
  Illinois Power – 10/11/2002 – 300
• Illinois Power – 7/23/2001 – $300

http://www.elections.il.gov

Supporters of Jack D Franks committee ID 19464 (current PAC)

Citizens for Jack D Franks committee ID 13681 (previous PAC)